Written Answers Tuesday 7 March 2006

Scottish Executive

Air Transport

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that students originally resident on the islands or in Caithness will have access to the discounted air fares due to become available to island residents when travelling to or from their place of study.

Tavish Scott: An announcement will be made shortly on further details of the "aid of a social character" scheme, including on whether students from the eligible areas, who are studying outwith these areas, will be included in the scheme.

Animal Welfare

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what flaws it has identified in the report, Tail Injuries of Shorthaired German Pointer Dogs Born in Sweden in 1989 .

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the report, Tail Injuries of Shorthaired German Pointer Dogs Born in Sweden in 1989 , is unscientific and, if so, on what basis it has reached that conclusion.

Ross Finnie: The report is unscientific in its methodology and has no veterinary input. It was an in-house survey carried out on German Shorthair Pointer (GSP) owners by the GSP Council in Sweden which relied solely on volunteered owner feedback. Their responses were not supported by veterinary evidence and there was no standardisation of degree of severity of damage. Fully comparative statistical material is not available throughout the two years of the survey (1990 and 1991). The statistics do not differentiate between damage occurring during hunting and by other causes. It was not a controlled study and has not been peer reviewed.

  The report has been regarded as unscientific by the Swedish Board of Agriculture which noted the defects in its methodology.

Care Commission

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the statutory framework in respect of reporting complaints upheld by the Care Commission to relevant public bodies, in light of the case of Mrs Alma Murray whilst a patient in an NHS-contracted bed at the BUPA Hatton Lea Nursing Home in Bellshill.

Lewis Macdonald: We have no immediate plans to review the statutory framework in respect of the reporting of complaints upheld by the Care Commission to other relevant public bodies. The current framework already allows for such reports to be made when necessary.

  The Care Commission’s (revised) complaints procedure was published in September 2004 under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the Act) with the approval of ministers.

  Under that procedure the Care Commission reports on the outcome of a complaint to the complainant and to the care provider. Beyond that the commission has the discretion to decide if and when to notify other agencies. It is currently developing agreements with local authorities and health boards which set out arrangements for sharing information including information on complaints and enforcement.

  The complaints procedure includes arrangements to fast-track complaints where there are indications of abuse or neglect or allegations of an offence that present a clear risk of actual or probable harm to the service user. In these circumstances the commission will inform the relevant agencies immediately on receipt of the complaint. In addition, where the outcome of a complaint – whether or not it is fast tracked - leads to formal enforcement action this will be included in the care service provider’s next inspection report and will be followed up by the commission as part of the inspection process. The commission also has a duty under the Act to copy all formal improvement notices to the local authority where the service is provided. 

  Separately, as part of the Adult Support and Protection Bill, ministers will be bringing forward proposals that place a requirement on all agencies to collaborate and share information where it is thought that an adult is at risk in whatever setting.

Children and Young People

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all children who have been abused have access to abuse recovery services.

Robert Brown: The aim of the three year child protection reform programme, now in its final year, is that children and young people get the help they need when they need it. It is for local agencies to identify the specific services required to meet the needs of children in their area and, through mechanisms such as integrated children’s services planning, ensure these are secured and delivered.

  Funding is also available to agencies and the voluntary sector through the Changing Children’s Services Fund, the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund and the Survivors Fund to provide services required locally.

  In addition, in September 2005 the National Strategy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse was announced. The aim of this work is to effect a step change in services responses to survivors in Scotland.

Children and Young People

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abuse recovery services exist for children who have been abused.

Robert Brown: This information is not held centrally.

Children and Young People

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has committed in each of the last three financial years to support the development and delivery of abuse recovery services to children who have been abused.

Robert Brown: A number of funding streams are available to agencies and voluntary sector organisations to support the development and delivery of local services.

  One of the priorities of the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund is to protect children through effective early intervention with children and families and/or support when they need protection. The Unified Fund has been in existence since 2004-05. The fund total for 2004-05 was £6.5 million and £7.2 million for 2005-06.

  In addition one of the priorities for the Changing Children’s Services Fund is to support packages for vulnerable children and young. Over the last three years the following have been spent specifically on child protection activities; 2002-03 £1,420,426 from a total fund of £27 million, 2003-04 £1,537,557 from a total fund of £41.5 million, and 2004-05 £5,389,793 from a total fund of £60.5 million.

Children and Young People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities in respect of transitional arrangements for vulnerable children moving from foster care to adult status.

Robert Brown: Regulations and guidance on the support and assistance for young people leaving care in Scotland came into force on 1 April 2004. In addition, the Scottish Executive commissioned materials to assist local authorities in carrying out this duty effectively. These were published under the title Pathways and disseminated to all local authorities.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will employ an outside agency to monitor data gathering and evaluation services on a pro tem basis until a smart card system is operational within the new concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland will be responsible for the management of the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled persons. The concessionary travel unit of Transport Scotland will employ reimbursement and compliance staff with responsibility for monitoring the frequency and quality of data received from bus operators. Transport Scotland will also determine the extent and nature of external survey activity as part of their responsibility to ensure that concessionary reimbursement is accurate and proper.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence of external commercial interests actively encouraging dentists to move from the NHS.

Lewis Macdonald: We are aware that information on private dental plans has been offered to dentists, and that private dental plan providers routinely advertise in the professional journals. Relevant examples are contained in the September to October 2005, Issue 76 of the Scottish Dentist which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39044).

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that patients who have been deregistered from NHS dental practices are notified of local dental waiting lists.

Lewis Macdonald: The overall responsibility for provision of NHS dental services rests with NHS boards, whom we encourage to maintain lists of patients who wish to have access to NHS dental services.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence that dentists moving to private practice are being advised to retain some NHS work in their practices to maximise the NHS funding they receive.

Lewis Macdonald: Experience suggests that dentists moving to private practice will retain some element of NHS work, mainly registration and treatment of children and other patients exempt from charges, which attracts some NHS funding and allowances.

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the terms of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 will be brought into force; why it has not yet been brought into force; whether it is intended to bring it into force on 28 April 2006 and, if so, what the reasons are for the decision in respect of which date it comes into force.

Hugh Henry: The Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 will come into effect in the late spring or early summer of 2006 once the requisite arrangements have been made in relation to rules of court and secondary legislation.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any high street banks trading in fish quotas and, if so, which banks are involved.

Ross Finnie: Following previous decommissioning schemes, we are aware that some banks have acquired quota units – in total, representing less than 1% of the fixed quota units available - and are engaged in the so-called "trade" in fish quota. However, full details of the banks involved and their unit holdings are not available.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to secure further fishing opportunities in 2006 for fishermen, particularly in the white fish fleet.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has managed to swap in 2,324 tonnes of haddock this year with approximately a further 2,000 tonnes in the pipeline. In addition, the Executive is enabling the scientific research required in order to secure an in-year increase in monkfish quotas.

Foster Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foster carers there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.

  However, the Scottish Executive is currently collating information about the number of foster carers and any shortfall of foster carers in each local authority area in order to evaluate the impact of the extra £12 million in funding being provided to improve local authority fostering services.

Freight

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants have been awarded under the Waterborne Freight Grant scheme to assist with the operating costs of transferring freight from road to waterborne transport and which ports have benefited as a result of these grant allocations.

Tavish Scott: We have made two awards of grant under the Waterborne Freight Grant scheme. Neither award was made to a port.

  Superfast Ferries received grant support totalling £519,722 to enable them to continue operating a two vessel ferry service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge during 2005. Grant support ceased once a single vessel service was introduced in November 2005. KD Marine (UK) Ltd received grant support of £19,604 to part fund a feasibility study into the provision of a waterborne freight service through the Caledonian Canal.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to permit the dispensing of patient packs across primary, secondary and tertiary care, including the implementation of suitable medication self-administration schemes in hospital.

Lewis Macdonald: A self-administration of medicines "toolkit" has been developed which describes the key components required to implement self-administration schemes locally. The toolkit is being validated by pharmacists and other relevant health care groups before it is issued to NHSScotland for local application.

  No special permission is required to allow community pharmacists to dispense patient packs. Arrangements are in place for pharmacists to dispense drugs in quantities which do not match the quantities supplied by manufacturers in patient packs.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children in (a) primary and (b) secondary education are affected by Pervasive Developmental Disorders in each local authority area.

Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.

  However, the Executive Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2005 provides information on the number of pupils with a Record of Needs and/or an Individualised Educational Programme in primary, secondary and special schools and their main difficulty in learning. This publication is available from

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00487.

Justice

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of juvenile vandalism there have been in each of the last five years in each police authority area by children aged (a) under five, (b) six to eight, (c) eight to 10, (d) 11 to 13 and (e) 14 to 16.

Robert Brown: This is a matter for police forces. The information is not collated centrally.

  However data does exist where a young person has been referred by the police to the Children’s Reporter. The following table has been produced by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) from its Referrals Administration Database (RAD). It shows the numbers of children aged eight to 10 years, 11 to 13 years and 14 to 16 years who were referred to the Children’s Reporter in 2003-04 and 2004-05 on offence grounds where the offence category was vandalism/ malicious mischief in each police force area.

  Eight years is the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland and children below this age cannot be charged with offences. Information is provided for 2003-04 and

  2004-05. Prior to 2003 and the roll-out of RAD, SCRA did not record centrally offence categories:

  

 2003-04
Children 
8-10
Grounds
8-10
Children
11-13
Grounds 
11-13
Children 
14-16
Grounds 
14-16


 Central
 41
 55
 206
 340
 290
 644


 Dumfries and Galloway
 16
 34
 102
 158
 140
 319


 Fife
 51
 63
 169
 281
 235
 414


 Grampian
 30
 39
 104
 182
 154
 245


 Lothian and Borders
 45
 108
 184
 384
 296
 629


 Northern
 31
 94
 136
 527
 182
 424


 Strathclyde
 159
 262
 708
 1,086
 1,279
 2,172


 Tayside
 44
 74
 187
 342
 290
 489


 Total
 417
 729
 1,796
 3,300
 2,866
 5,336



  

 2004-05
Children
8-10
Grounds
8-10
Children
11-13
Grounds
11-13
Children
14-16
Grounds
14-16


 Central
 55
 69
 217
 686
 330
 951


 Dumfries and Galloway
 28
 34
 79
 151
 149
 286


 Fife
 56
 85
 215
 362
 295
 652


 Grampian
 20
 27
 115
 240
 181
 374


 Lothian and Borders
 42
 56
 223
 501
 360
 734


 Northern
 29
 43
 137
 329
 225
 558


 Strathclyde
 211
 306
 804
 1249
 1323
 2221


 Tayside
 43
 76
 158
 285
 304
 627


 Total
 484
 696
 1,948
 3,803
 3,167
 6,403

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were to it of legal representation which it sought in defence of the claim for compensation against it by Shirley McKie.

Cathy Jamieson: The final costs will be determined when the court resolves the outstanding issues in relation to expenses.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rules it has in respect of ownership by judges, sheriffs and stipendiary magistrates of a financial interest in private prisons and what action it takes to monitor the observance of any such rules.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not make rules about the conduct of the independent judiciary. Members of the judiciary are expected to conduct personal business in a way which avoids the risk of any compromise to their independence when handling cases which come before them.

Justices of the Peace

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how individuals are selected to be Secretary of State-appointed Justices of the Peace.

Cathy Jamieson: At present, individuals are selected by the JP Advisory Committees (JPACs) who have a duty to find suitable candidates from all sections of the community in their district. In recommending men and women for appointment, JPACs have to ensure that each local authority bench contains as wide a variety of interests, social background and experience as possible.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the potential for local authorities to be subject to legal challenge as a result of breach of contract if the Rule of 85 in the Local Government Pension Scheme is abolished and to the capacity of local authorities to defend such a challenge, given that the Executive has decided not to publish the legal advice it has obtained on the abolition of the rule.

Mr Tom McCabe: Assuming the current rule of 85 provisions are removed, as planned, from the Local Government Pension Scheme by amendments made to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Scotland) 1998 (as amended) then it is likely that a local authority, as an employer complying with the legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament, would respond to such a legal challenge from an employee, by claiming that it is obliged to act in the way it had done by virtue of the regulations.

Mountain Rescue

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue with current funding arrangements for mountain rescue from 1 April 2006; whether it plans any reduction in funding, and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.

Cathy Jamieson: Since 2003-04, the Executive has provided £1.46 million in funding to support mountain rescue. A further grant of £300,000 will be paid to the Mountain Rescue Committee for Scotland in 2006-07. Future funding beyond that period will be considered in the context of the next spending review.

NHS Waiting Times

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median waiting times were for (a) new out-patients and (b) return out-patients for each of the last 16 quarters, broken down also by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment at a consultant-led clinic, following referral by a General Medical or Dental Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, for each of the last 16 quarters, are given in the following table.

  The Executive is committed to reducing waiting times across Scotland, with particular priority being given to seeing those patients who have waited longest. As NHSScotland continues to make good progress in reducing maximum waiting times, and sees more patients who have had longer waits, median waiting times will rise. A significant change in the waiting time distribution of patients seen, such as a higher number of patients who have had lengthy waits, will increase median waiting times.

  Information on waiting times for second and subsequent out-patient appointments is not collected centrally.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For A First Out-Patient Appointment At A Consultant-Led Clinic, Following Referral By A General Medical/Dental Practitioner. Quarters Ended 31 March 2002 to 31 December 2005, Median Waiting Times (Days)

  

 NHS Board of Residence
 Mar 2002
 Jun 2002
 Sep 2002
 Dec 2002
 Mar 2003
 Jun 2003
 Sep 2003
 Dec 2003


 Argyll and Clyde
 50
 47
 52
 50
 54
 48
 55
 53


 Ayrshire and Arran
 50
 48
 54
 51
 52
 48
 51
 47


 Borders
 39
 38
 41
 39
 42
 43
 47
 38


 Dumfries and Galloway
 56
 56
 58
 53
 47
 45
 54
 47


 Fife
 66
 64
 70
 66
 66
 58
 66
 63


 Forth Valley
 64
 62
 68
 66
 63
 60
 64
 59


 Grampian
 71
 64
 69
 64
 63
 54
 54
 56


 Greater Glasgow
 69
 64
 70
 69
 64
 57
 59
 59


 Highland
 42
 39
 39
 40
 44
 42
 43
 42


 Lanarkshire
 72
 76
 81
 84
 84
 67
 63
 60


 Lothian
 48
 48
 50
 51
 51
 51
 49
 47


 Orkney
 34
 40
 41
 38.5
 29
 29
 29
 38


 Shetland
 26
 25
 30
 28
 29
 30
 30.5
 38


 Tayside
 54
 50
 49
 50
 49
 48
 53
 54


 Western Isles
 36
 34
 42
 39
 37
 33
 36
 33


 Scotland
 57
 56
 60
 59
 58
 53
 55
 54



  Median Waiting Times (Days)

  

 NHS Board of Residence
 Mar 2004
 Jun 2004
 Sep 2004
 Dec 2004
 Mar 2005
 Jun 2005
 Sep 2005
 Dec 2005P


 Argyll and Clyde
 58
 53
 55
 49
 50
 49
 48
 49


 Ayrshire and Arran
 50
 49
 51
 53
 57
 54
 61
 62


 Borders
 38
 42
 41
 37
 48
 36
 35
 35


 Dumfries and Galloway
 47
 44
 49
 53
 48
 41
 42
 41


 Fife
 64
 60
 61
 63
 74
 58
 60
 61


 Forth Valley
 62
 62
 67
 75
 75
 63
 62
 72


 Grampian
 56
 50
 57
 57
 74
 51
 55
 64


 Greater Glasgow
 57
 51
 60
 62
 64
 54
 52
 57


 Highland
 42
 41
 43
 45
 49
 48.5
 54
 63


 Lanarkshire
 64
 58
 62
 69
 70
 64
 63
 67


 Lothian
 48
 48
 50
 49
 53
 48
 56
 60


 Orkney
 34
 34
 31
 29
 49
 36
 40
 32


 Shetland
 43
 37
 35
 33
 30
 30
 31.5
 35


 Tayside
 50
 50
 54
 54
 64
 49
 51
 50


 Western Isles
 29
 39
 39
 37
 54
 38
 36
 38


 Scotland
 55
 51
 55
 56
 62
 52
 54
 57



  Source: ISD Scotland SMR00.

  PProvisional.

  Excludes patients with an Availability Status Code.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21902 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 January 2006, whether it has examined the impact on funding the operation of railway policing in Scotland if the British Transport Police was to be partially absorbed by the Metropolitan Police Service and, if so, what the impact would be.

Cathy Jamieson: The impact on funding arrangements for railway policing in Scotland would depend on the nature of any decision about the future structure of British Transport Police. Officials remain in touch with the Department of Transport on progress with their review of British Transport Police.

Public Sector Procurement

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal software, purchased for the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales, will be used in Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Assessors have been monitoring the work of the Valuation Office Agency in this area. However, a final view on whether similar software would be appropriate for Scotland will not be taken meantime, pending consideration of the conclusions of the Local Government Finance Review Committee on the future of local taxation in Scotland. The Review Committee is due to report later this year.

Public Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been done of the availability of low rise buses, in light of 20% of the population having mobility difficulties.

Tavish Scott: We encourage bus operators to provide a range of buses including low floor buses.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the total cost of the Waverley phase one works to increase the capacity of Waverley Station, broken down into the main components of the work, including the work on the Waverley Steps, and also allowing for any optimism bias.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is fully funding the redevelopment of Waverley Station at an estimated cost of £150 million, broken down into the following components:

  

 Item
 Total Cost


 Signalling and Telecoms
£34 million


 Infrastructure
£32 million


 Waverley Steps
£8 million


 Network Rail 
£13 million


 Contingency and Optimism Bias
£63 million


 Total
£150 million



  Source of data: Network Rail.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when phase one of the upgrade and refurbishment of Waverley Station will be completed; whether this will increase the capacity of the station from 24 to 28 trains per hour, and, if so, when the station will be operating at this new increased capacity.

Tavish Scott: The target date for completion of the re-development of Waverley Station is November 2007. This will increase the number of trains which Waverley can accommodate from 24 per hour to 28.

  The station will have the capacity for four more train paths. Operationally, this will facilitate future planned rail projects such as the new Airdrie to Bathgate services.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to create a stop at Edinburgh Park for trains on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line service.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland recently asked First ScotRail to consider and estimate the implications of introducing stops at Edinburgh Park station for services operating on the Edinburgh/Glasgow route. The results of this work have been received, however more needs to be done to assess the performance and financial impact of these changes, before a decision is made.

Rail Network

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that creating a stop at Edinburgh Park on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line service would lead to a reduction in commuter road traffic and thereby benefit the environment.

Tavish Scott: Edinburgh Park station is currently served by four trains per hour in each direction at peak times and already offers commuters a real alternative to the car. The potential for further positive impact on traffic volumes of such a stop at Edinburgh Park will form part of the appraisal of future timetable developments for Edinburgh to Glasgow services.

Rail Network

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the introduction of twice-per-hour non-stop express trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow, with additional twice-per-hour trains stopping at multiple stations, including Edinburgh Park, would result in the most comprehensive and satisfactory train service between the two cities.

Tavish Scott: Options to change the existing timetable are constrained by the current rail infrastructure. Transport Scotland is investing to deliver a number of rail infrastructure enhancements on this route, including the major redevelopment of Edinburgh Waverley Station. Transport Scotland will ensure that appropriate improvements to the Edinburgh and Glasgow timetable will be implemented to maximise the return from these investments as they are delivered.

Rail Network

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22025 by Tavish Scott on 10 February 2006, how it will expedite the delivery of the new car park at Croy railway station.

Tavish Scott: Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority is working with First ScotRail to deliver the car park extension at Croy railway station. I have made clear that I expect the project to be completed by the end of March 2007, since there is no budgetary provision beyond then. Robust reporting arrangements are being put in place as part of the conditions of grant for financial year 2006-07 and Transport Scotland will offer to provide support to facilitate delivery.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18353 by Tavish Scott on 18 August 2005, when it expects to conclude its review of the Glenmayne scheme.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will proceed with the scheme to upgrade the A7 at Glenmayne, announced by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 20 March 2003, and, if so, when construction is expected to start.

Tavish Scott: In developing the design for this scheme since the original announcement in March 2003, a total of eleven options have been considered. In August 2003 consultants were appointed for the development of the scheme with a project brief being issued on 3 September 2003. A Divisional review of the development work on the scheme took place on 18 February 2005.

  In June of 2005 following further assessment, our consultants indicated that the economic analysis of all the options failed to demonstrate the necessary value for money in taking the scheme forward. Before taking any decision, the scheme was reviewed by engineers from Scottish Borders Council in August 2005 and they confirmed our earlier findings. In the light of this and the environmental impact which the scheme would have had, the decision was made in November 2005 not to take the scheme forward at this time. My officials will keep this section of the route under review and assess any future actions which may be required.

Roads

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that facilities for all non-motorised road users are included in trunk road upgrading schemes to enable such facilities to fit the surrounding network and be suitable for inclusion in forthcoming core path plans.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive published Cycling by Design in December 1999. This represented international best practice in providing for cyclists through a system of design guidance and audit, and implemented undertakings given in the earlier trunk road cycling initiative.

  Transport Scotland now has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to increase the provision of routes for non-motorised road users in trunk road corridors outwith current schemes.

Tavish Scott: As part of the Trunk Road Cycling Initiative Transport Scotland is increasing the provision of routes for non-motorised road users in trunk road corridors outwith current schemes by taking forward a number of projects. These include re-determination of suitable existing rural footways for joint use and the following longer distance routes:

  

 A82 Corridor 
 Great Glen Cycleway from Fort William to Inverness 


 A82 Corridor
 Torlundy to Fort William Link for the 2007 MB World Championships


 A7 Corridor
 Selkirk – Galashiels Link


 A1 Corridor
 Bilsdean Link for the North Sea Cycleway


 A86-A889 Corridor
 Laggan Community Links


 A82 Corridor
 West Loch Lomond Cycleway between Balloch and Arrochar Rail Stations


 A828 Corridor
 Oban to Fort William Cycleway



  The above projects are in addition to the work carried out by the Executive over recent years to NMU routes outwith road improvement schemes such as the A9 and A75 Cycleways.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22411 by Tavish Scott on 30 January 2006, what the completion dates were of the 10 projects listed.

Tavish Scott: The completion dates for the 10 projects referred to are listed:

  

 Kessock Bridge 
 1982


 Cromarty Bridge
 1979


 Dornoch Bridge
 1991


 Longman to Charlestown
 1982


 Charleston to Tore
 1981


 Tore to Duncanston
 1978


 Duncanston to Ardullie
 1975


 Dunbeath
 1990


 Garrick Bridge to Logie Easter
 1982


 Helmsdale to Ord of Caithness
 2005



  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22411 by Tavish Scott on 30 January 2006, what the costs were of the improvements to the A99 from Latheron to John O’ Groats and to the A9 from (a) Ardullie to Logie Easter and (b) Garrick Bridge to Dornoch junction.

Tavish Scott: Records of some of these construction schemes are no longer available. Records that are available show that the improvement between Broomhill and Logie Easter opened in 1993, cost £9.43 million at 2005 equivalent value.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice it received on the preferred route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Tavish Scott: The technical information referred to in making the decision has been published and is available on the project website www.awpr.co.uk .

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consultees in respect of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route were advised that the Milltimber Brae option was not a likely choice.

Tavish Scott: No. It was made clear when the public consultation was launched that the route choice which included Milltimber Brae, was open and that everyone was encouraged to express their views.

Terrorism Act 2000

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds statistics centrally, or any other relevant information, concerning the number of people who have been (a) stopped and searched and (b) detained temporarily under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally by the Executive.

  The Home Office publishes on its website, information on arrests and charges throughout the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000. The latest figures are available via the following link:

  http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/?version=1.

Tourism

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Tourism Framework for Change.

Patricia Ferguson: I am pleased to announce the launch of the Tourism Framework For Change, which will support the ambition we share with the tourism industry to grow tourism revenues by 50% by 2015. The framework details a number of actions which will be taken forward by the tourism industry, the Executive and other organisations working together to contribute towards the growth of tourism in Scotland. Our ambition is to make Scotland one of the world’s leading visitor destinations by 2015.

  Copies of the Framework are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39042) or at:

  http://www.scotlamd.gov.uk/95406

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/03/03145848.

Transport

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the introduction of aid of a social character to provide discounted travel between the highlands and islands and Scotland’s major cities does not include residents on NHS-funded trips and what the saving would be for NHS Western Isles if these discounts were applied to such trips.

Tavish Scott: Under the European Union state aid rules, "aid of a social character" cannot be combined with other types of aid or assistance. Trips cannot, therefore, be part funded both by the National Health Service (NHS) and by "aid of a social character".

Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid from the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grants scheme in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; how many applications for funding have been rejected in the same timescale, and what the total value was of these applications.

Tavish Scott: Grants paid under the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant scheme in the last five years are shown in the following table. Grants are paid to local authorities only and are allocated directly to the authority. Grant applications are not required to be made, thus none have been rejected.

  

 Local Authority
 Grant Paid (£000)


 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeenshire
 397
 441
 475
 545
 572


 Angus
 152
 167
 181
 205
 216


 Argyll and Bute
 340
 377
 406
 466
 489


 Clackmannanshire
 44
 46
 51
 56
 59


 Dumfries and Galloway
 366
 406
 437
 501
 527


 East Ayrshire
 60
 63
 70
 78
 81


 East Dunbartonshire
 41
 42
 47
 51
 55


 East Lothian 
 66
 70
 77
 86
 91


 East Renfrewshire
 40
 41
 46
 50
 54


 Eilean Siar
 357
 395
 426
 488
 513


 Falkirk
 59
 62
 69
 76
 80


 Fife
 113
 122
 133
 151
 158


 Highland
 696
 775
 832
 958
 1,006


 Inverclyde
 38
 39
 44
 48
 51


 Midlothian
 52
 54
 60
 66
 70


 Moray
 121
 131
 143
 162
 170


 North Ayrshire
 77
 82
 90
 101
 106


 North Lanarkshire
 52
 54
 60
 67
 70


 Orkney 
 193
 212
 229
 261
 275


 Perth and Kinross
 200
 219
 237
 271
 285


 Renfrewshire
 43
 44
 50
 54
 58


 Scottish Borders
 193
 212
 230
 262
 276


 Shetland
 153
 167
 181
 206
 216


 South Ayrshire
 97
 104
 114
 129
 135


 South Lanarkshire
 153
 167
 181
 206
 217


 Stirling
 100
 108
 118
 133
 139


 West Dunbartonshire
 41
 42
 47
 51
 55


 West Lothian
 56
 58
 65
 72
 76


 Total
 4,300
 4,700
 5,099
 5,800
 6,100

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure accommodation places are available for young offenders.

Cathy Jamieson: There are currently 92 secure accommodation places available in Scotland. The distribution is as follows:

  St Mary’s Kenmure (Glasgow): 31 secure places

  Kerelaw, (North Ayrshire), run by Glasgow Council: 20 places

  Rossie (Montrose): 25 places

  Howdenhall/St Katherine’s (Edinburgh): 12 places

  The Elms, (Dundee): four places.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional secure accommodation places for young offenders are proposed to meet (a) current need and (b) future demand.

Cathy Jamieson: The current secure estate consists of 92 places. These are distributed as follows:

  St Mary’s Kenmure (Glasgow): 31 secure places

  Kerelaw, (North Ayrshire), run by Glasgow Council: 20 places

  Rossie (Montrose): 25 places

  Howdenhall/St Katherine’s (Edinburgh): 12 places

  The Elms, (Dundee): four places.

  An additional 29 places were announced on 24 March 2003 to meet future demand. These will also be able to offer much needed facilities for girls only.

  When complete by 2007 the secure estate will therefore consist of 125 places:

  18 boys only at Kibble (Paisley)

  24 mixed at St Philip’s (Airdrie)

  18 girls only at Good Shepherd (Bishopton)

  18 mixed at Rossie (Montrose)

  31 mixed at St Mary’s (Glasgow)

  12 mixed at Howdenhall/St Katherines (Edinburgh)

  four mixed in The Elms (Dundee).